The oligomerization of ethylene in FCC dry gas over HZSM-5 catalyst with different Si/Al2 ratios was studied. The effect of acid density of catalyst on the oligomerization of ethylene was discussed. By increasing the acid density of catalyst, ethylene conversion showed a linear increase, while the yields of olefins decreased when the acid density of catalyst exceeded 0.14 mmolNH3/g owing to a promotion of hydrogen transfer reaction. Through comparing the average distance between acid sites on catalyst with kinetic diameters of olefins, it was found that the dimerization of ethylene was not restrained by the sparse distribution of acid sites, while the hydrogen transfer reaction of C3 and C4 olefins was limited. On these bases, a conclusion is proposed that the dimerization of ethylene proceeded via Eley-Rideal mechanism, while the hydrogen transfer reaction of C3 and C4 olefins followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.